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Global News: Good progress for the Print and Publishing Industries

June 29, 2015
drupa 2016, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Value Contributors, Value Innovation
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Mike Hilton Key Visual 06-2015.001

Graphic Repro On-line News: Review from 29 June 2015

Welcome to another roundup of news highlights, the latest addition to the FESPA Newsroom and Laurel Brunner’s Verdigris Blog for Friday 26 June which looks at invisible print as a source of environmental impact reduction. We also had the first of the drupa 2016 Expert Articles a week ago, from internationally renowned editor and publisher Gareth Ward, of Print Business UK, just in case you missed it in last week’s update. In Online Features Chapter 05 you will find the latest from KBA with a report on LED UV from Blackmore in the UK; and from HEPACK in Germany with a massive investment in Heidelberg sheetfed and finishing for packaging. There’s also a really encouraging and exciting first as a KBA RotaJET 76 inkjet press from Koenig & Bauer is about to enter the digital book printing market at Kösel in Altusried, Germany. A first for KBA in this growth sector which has massive potential for digital print – both toner-based and especially in inkjet.

Monday and Tuesday’s leaders are included in the mentions above, while on Wednesday, QuadTech led the headlines with its Color Control System on Vuye Flexible Packaging’s new DGp Thallo Press in The Netherlands, showcased at open house. DGp or DG press is a company of the DG press GrouP and was founded in 2009 after the bankruptcy of Drent Goebel.

On Thursday Antalis took the lead with its four most recent acquisitions In the packaging and visual communication distribution markets representing annual sales of Euro 130 million, which are enabling Antalis to step-up the pace of its development in the packaging field.

To round off this week’s leaders we chose Andreas Weber’s latest non-profit initiative which really does need your help with crowd-funding and support, in order to achieve its ambitious target. Please read all about it and follow the links in the article which along with the project is entitled ‘Surprise. The Art of Print!’ from Mainz in Germany, home of the founding father of print, Johannes Gutenberg.

Quite a number of new developments and also some very nice sales and installations appear among this week’s selection of 25 news articles, including Heidelberg in the UK, Horizon with IFS also in the UK, KBA-Flexotecnica in China, Muller Martini in the USA, MPS in India, and Rotocontrol in Italy, as we approach the main holiday season in Europe, when industry news is expected to drop even further during the month of July. Always a good time to take a break!

The tailender this week goes to Andrew Jones and Merthyr Tydfil-based Welsh print shop Stephens & George, which next month will switch its final XL 105 for another 18,000sph Speedmaster XL 106-10-P, bringing the total of  XL 106 long-perfectors with InPress Control, Autoplate XL and CutStar to five. You’ll find the full story which highlights the massive savings the company has achieved with this technology shift in Thursday’s headlines.

That’s it until next time, my best regards,

Mike Hilton

—

Our e-News comprises:  Headline News – Online Feature Articles – the Verdigris initiative from Digital Dots. Our Drupa and FESPA Newsrooms can be accessed from the Index on our Home Page, as well as News in Review, which provides a weekly overview and listing of all news added to the site. 

Headline News
Over 26,000 news items have now gone online since we launched our Website in September 2001. News for the past 24 months can still be accessed via the Home Page and its continuation news pages 

From Monday 22 June

Mon 22 Jun…    Renowned book producer Kösel invests in KBA RotaJET 76
The KBA RotaJET 76 inkjet press from Koenig & Bauer entering the digital book printing market at Kösel in Altusried, Germany.

UPM closes 130,000 tonnes of newsprint capacity in France
UPM has permanently closed PM 3 at Chapelle Darblay. The decision is part of its profit improvement target announced last November.

Ricoh at Interquest 2015 Forum on 25 June
Ricoh shows off colour trade book production expertise at Interquest 2015 London Digital Book Printing Forum…

FESPA China 2015: Find your key to success
FESPA China returns to Shanghai from 21 – 23 October 2015, with host of top global and local print manufacturers…

Friesens Corporation adds Roland 900 HiPrint XXL
Friesens puts the apex of automation and one of North America’s largest eight-colour perfecting presses from Manroland into action…

Tue 23 Jun…   Neuenstein-based HEPACK undertakes €12 million investment
HEPACK Druck+Verpackung reorganises production with large-format equipment, workflow and services all from Heidelberg…

Dscoop scores a perfect round in Dublin
Dscoop has confirmed that 1250 industry professionals from 47 different countries congregated in Dublin for the largest Dscoop yet…

Fujifilm Flenex FW flexo plate debut at Labelexpo 2015
Fujifilm’s Flenex FW water-washable flexo plate makes its official European debut at Labelexpo 2015 in Brussels in September…

Flint Group finds the easy way to create flat top
Nyloflex FTF Digital, an inherently flat top plate with special, textured surface for flexible packaging…

Top Soft Pinning plate improves flexo productivity
Asahi introduces new medium hard AFP-TSP digital plate for paper, folding carton and corrugated board and flexible packaging…

Wed 24 Jun…   QuadTech technology showcased with new DGp press
QuadTech Color Control System on Vuye Flexible Packaging’s new DGp Thallo Press in The Netherlands showcased at open house…

KBA Rapida LED Press a ‘marketing dream’ for Blackmore
Dorset’s premier print house hits new heights with UK’s first B1 LED press after its first three months of commercial production…

StitchLiner investment supports Whittington Moor’s growth
15 per cent year-on-year increase to continue with ROI in 15 months, following the installation of Horizon StitchLiner from IFS…

Focus on fabric for new investment at Colour Graphics
Colour Graphics adds MTEX 5032Pro direct-to-textile printer…

KBA China ensures comeback in Chinese flexo market
Shanghai Zidan Food Packaging & Printing opts for EVO XD from KBA-Flexotecnica after an intensive selection process…

Thu 25 Jun…   Antalis steps up pace of development through acquisition
In the packaging and visual communication distribution markets Antalis’ four new acquisitions represent sales of Euro 130 million…

pdfToolbox 8.0 focuses on usability and versatility
Callas Software releases major update of its flagship pdfToolbox product family with all-new Object Inspector tool…

Stephens & George completes switch to Speedmaster XL 106
Next month the Merthyr Tydfil-based Welsh print shop will switch its final XL 105 for another 18,000sph Speedmaster XL 106-10-P…

Blitsdruk raises the digital print bar with Xerox
The George-based South African digital print, design and copy shop has invested in a Xerox Versant 2100 digital printer…

Primera Digital saddle stitching at DS Graphics in the USA
Customised travel brochures with runs of 1 are produced automatically with the innovative saddle stitcher from Muller Martini…

Fri 26 Jun…   ‘Surprise. The Art of Print!’: Please give your support!
Now there is the second step and a new Non-Profit project will start, developed in Mainz, Germany by Andreas Weber…

Labelexpo Europe strengthens focus on package printing
Package printing will be a core subject at Labelexpo Europe 2015 as the show prepares to return to Brussels in September…

Mimaki to add sparkle to its stand with eco-solvent silver
Beauty and practicality demos planned for Labelexpo 2015…

A third MPS flexo press for Pragati Pack
Pragati Pack, based in Hyderabad, India, has invested in its third MPS flexo press for printing pressure-sensitive labels….

Italgrafica expands with two Rotocontrol machines
The Italian converter has ordered an RSC-series slitter/rewinder and a custom-built C-series high-quality slitting machine…

Lead articles from Friday 19 June in previous update… 

Previous…    Smarter Print to Market
Touch the future. The first of the drupa Expert Articles in this new series by Gareth Ward, Editor and Publisher of Print Business UK…

50 years of unit-type sheetfed offset presses from Radebeul
Technological milestones from Saxony revolutionised the press engineering industry…

GraphicRepro.Net e-News  (ISSN 1814-2923) is sponsored and made possible by:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG  (Heidelberg), The world’s largest printing press manufacturer for the industry worldwide. Heidelberg customers enjoy the most comprehensive and extensive sales and service network in the industry for JDF compliant workflow, computer-to-plate, sheetfed offset, Web-to-print, digital printing, digital inkjet for labels and packaging, packaging and finishing, all with complementary consumables. Heidelberg has offices in around 170 countries. Visit the Heidelberg Website for more information.

Electronics For Imaging  (EFI) is a world leader in digital imaging and print management solutions for the commercial printing market. Its portfolio of integrated solutions span production and superwide format printing, graphic arts, advanced professional printing software, and industrial inkjet systems. Its technologies increase productivity by automating print and business processes To find out more visit the EFI Website.

Kodak Commercial Imaging  (Kodak) is a leading provider of innovative solutions for conventional, digital and hybrid print production environments. With the most expansive portfolio for the graphic communications market,  Kodak features technologies, products and services that help print providers streamline processes, optimise efficiencies, broaden services, and grow businesses. To find out more, visit the Kodak Graphics Website.

drupa 2016 (drupa), the international flagship fair of the printing and media industry, responds to the challenges of the changing market and provides pioneering solutions for the future. This is highlighted by the new marketing and communication strategy where drupa claims its position as ‘No.1 for Print & Crossmedia Solutions’ with the slogan ‘touch the future’. The issues of ‘package printing’, ‘multichannel’, ‘green printing’, ‘3D printing’ and ‘functional printing’ will become increasingly important to the overall communication strategy. To find out more, visit the drupa 2016 Website.

Online Feature articles 2014 – 2015
There were again well over 90 last year, including nine downloads, as well as 92 articles in 2013 which can still be accessed via the Index on the Home Page, with prior years’ via Search Archives (option 2) on the Website.

May/June 2015 Chapter 05

KBA Rapida LED press a ‘marketing dream’ for Blackmore
Dorset’s premier print house hits new heights with UK’s first B1 LED press…

Neuenstein-based HEPACK undertakes €12 million Heidelberg investment
HEPACK Druck+Verpackung GmbH reorganises production with new large-format equipment, workflow and services from Heidelberg…

Renowned book producer Kösel invests in KBA RotaJET 76
The KBA RotaJET 76 inkjet press from Koenig & Bauer is about to enter the digital book printing market at Kösel in Altusried, Germany…

Previous…    Walliser Bote becomes first completely digitally printed newspaper
The Manroland digital finishing solution FoldLine for the HP T400 Color Inkjet Web Press at Mengis Druck AG in Switzerland finishes newspapers at high speed…

Technology-related articles Chapter 02

Previous…    50 years of unit-type sheetfed offset presses from Radebeul
Technological milestones from Saxony revolutionised the press engineering industry…

Heidelberg opens its new Commercial PMC in Wiesloch-Walldorf
New Print Media Centre Commercial at Wiesloch-Walldorf site reflects strategic reorientation of Heidelberg with focus on customer benefits…

Production Open Days at KBA in Würzburg Day 1
Koenig & Bauer undertakes large investment in high-performance manufacturing for the future, in parallel to realignment…

Production open-house at KBA in Würzburg for staff Day 2
A resounding success with a turnout of almost 1,000 amazed current and former KBA employees on day two, following 50 VIPs…

Verdigris – Environmental Initiative

Laurel Brunner’s weekly Verdigris Blog 2015

Invisible Print is a Source of Environmental Impact Reduction
The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 26 June

Previous…    Building Margins
The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 19 June

Drupa Newsroom
Our Drupa Newsroom with news from Messe Düsseldorf and for Drupa 2016 can be found in the Index, as well as via the special Newsroom button on the right of the Home Page near the top.

drupa 2016 Expert Articles series

Smarter print to market
Touch the future. drupa expert Article no 1, June 2015, by Gareth Ward, Editor and Publisher of Print Business in the UK…

FESPA Newsroom
The dedicated FESPA Newsroom can be found in the Index on our Home Page.

FESPA 2015 and FESPA News

FESPA 2015 attracted record numbers from Benelux
Regional interest in FESPA spikes ahead of FESPA Digital 2016 in Amsterdam…

Previous…    FESPA 2015 attracted most international visitor audience to date
The FESPA 2015 Global Expo in Cologne, Germany attracted the most internationally diverse audience yet from 133 countries…

FESPA China 2015: Find your key to success
FESPA China returns to Shanghai from 21 – 23 October 2015, with host of top global and local print manufacturers…

The Graphic Repro On-line Website is supported and sponsored by:

Antalis South Africa, Dainippon Screen,  Drupa 2016,  EFI and EFI Vutek, Esko,  Epson Europe BV,  FESPA. Goss International Inc,  Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG,  HP Graphic Solutions,  Kodak,  Koenig + Bauer AG,  Kemtek Imaging Systems,  Krause-Biagosch,  Leonhard Kurz Stiftung,   Manroland Web Systems GmbH,  Muller Martini AG,  POLAR-Mohr, QuadTech Inc,  Quark Inc,  Ricoh Europe,  Sappi Limited, Thunderbolt Solutions, and UPM-Kymmene.
Our Website urls are: 

http://www.graphicrepro.co.za
http://www.graphicrepro.net

GraphicRepro.Net e-News (ISSN 1814-2923)  provides weekly updates from the Graphic Repro On-line Website and is  compiled andpublished by Mike Hilton, graphicrepro.net, PO Box 10 Peterburgskoe Shosse 13/1, 196605 Pushkin 5, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Multi-channel Innovation via #XUG15EU: We practice what we preach!

June 4, 2015
Digital Transformation, Multi-Channel Innovation, Valuable Advice, Value Art & Communication
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XUG15EU PURL 1

HURRAY! It is all about me! — Perfect individualized Multi-Channel Campagne at #XUG15EU for all attendees and partners. Created ©2015 by Prindoz, Lübeck/Germany via XMPIE Software Solutions.

“HOW TO GAIN MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION VIEWS VIA TWITTER IN A VERY SHORT TIME? WITHOUT ANY ADVERTISING SPENDINGS, JUST BY ORGANIC REACH? — VERY SIMPLE: BY MULTI-CHANNEL INNOVATION AT ITS BEST!” —Andreas Weber

CHAPEAU! — Hats off! The entire organizational team of the XMPie User Group (XUG), especially XUG Board Member Christian Kopocz, have done a sensational job. Almost off the cuff and within less than 10 weeks, a new international conference was created. The sophisticated and unique conference theme: “Multi-channel Innovation”.

More than 130 participants from 17 countries gathered on May 26, 2015 (in spite of Pentecost holidays) in Berlin, the center of the start-up and innovation scene. Well-known partners supported the effort and presented, in technical lectures and demos, how to pull out all stops – whether analog, online or mobile. The event #XUG15EU was preceded by a comprehensive, highly effective multi-channel campaign which Christian Kopocz, with his company Prindoz, Lübeck/Germany, realized through the use of print, Purl, online marketing and especially social media. Even personal contacts were made across the country as well as several continents. On the day of the conference, participants were provided with individualized print materials, among others in the form of an event book printed on premium materials. A personalized website allowed following the program individually and also online and to rate the presentations and sessions through voting, of which about half of all participants took advantage.

The event was prepared, edited and reworked on all flanks through social media. Teaming up with XUG15EU partner, Value Communication AG, Christian Kopocz developed and realized a scenario which bet especially on Twitter, in combination with Facebook, LinkedIn und XING. The result is breathtaking: 

  • In just a little over 48 hours—from the night before the #XUG15EU until the day after —Twitter alone reached a total of more than 1.5 MILLION. On the day of the event itself, one million was almost exceeded. Note: No advertising spendings needed! Just by organic reach!
  • Of those, more than 253,000 were unique reaches.
  • 980 posts were made in order to comment on the conference and to capture and share its most important results and insights.
  • Participation among the conference participants present was very high: More than 30% posted actively, more than 80% shared the posts, thereby including their specific networks. And 100% of the organizers and partners sent posts and re-tweets around the globe.
  • In addition, on the day after the conference, interesting story recaps and blog posts dealt with the results.
  • And journalists took note as well. The 4-color magazine, Wien, a leader in German-speaking countries, sent a personal letter from its editor-in-chief, Martin Schwarz, along with its exclusive Print-Germany edition and presented, prior to the conference, an interview with Christian Kopocz. Live and locally, the London Output Magazine reported  online (via blog post and online newsletter to more than 20,000 subscribers); editor-in-chief, James Matthews-Paul, made a special trip and was able to hand to conference participants his exclusive, digitally printed special edition, Output One. The technical blog ValueTrendRadar by Andreas Weber had published interviews and comments for several weeks, even had discussed presentation subjects and then documented them in real time (to thousands of viewers from more than 40 countries).

“All in all we can say: What we achieved together represents a milestone, not just for us as the XMPie User Group, but for all innovation-oriented professionals in the communications industry“, said Christian Kopocz. And he added: “This was successful only because we practice what we preach. And because we are successful in not only informing, but also in motivating and inspiring on the highest level on sometimes complex themes that make up Multichannel Innovation.“

Panorama CGGxhHYWgAAEX8r

© 2015 by Christian Kopocz, Prindoz, Lübeck/Germany.

Accordingly, the value of all these communication successes lies in the maximum level of interaction of participants, presenters, partners and members of the media who were involved via social media. It is especially evident that B2B subjects can be meaningfully popularized.  

And not only as a fleeting, one-time action, but permanently.  Because all of this content and these messages live on (and recently also as Twitter news indexed by Google) after the conference ended. By the way: The post-game is just a pre-game! From October 25 to 28, 2015, the American XUG Conference takes place in Miami, Florida. Participation is worthwhile. One way or another! Afterthought: The theses and insights of the final presentation and panel discussion at the #XUG15 EU have thoroughly proven themselves.

The pivotal aspects are:

  1. Multichannel Innovation means: “Discover. Watch. Love. Share. Talk about it!”
  2. Multichannel Innovation assumes a mind shift: “It’s a disruptive lifestyle philosophy!”
  3. Multichannel Innovation links and unifies social/smart technologies and “human-to-human” needs. Because: Needs are the heart of all matter.

To the astonishment of participants, the question of who, or which company, is the “global leader” in Multi-channel Innovation, was answered … It‘s Apple! Why? First, because Steve Jobs, in multichannel conformance, coined the paradigm that success is only possible when the digital lifestyle experience gains 100% acceptance in people’s daily lives. And secondly, because Apple offers the best Web services and online shops, as well as the best brick-and-mortar flagship stores. And almost “by the way”, makes possible the best print applications — from AirPrint to digitally printed iPhoto Books and superb packaging. And all of this enhanced by extraordinary marketing orientation and an outstanding “customer experience”.

Print is dead? Long live print! — Great ValueReport Results

May 16, 2015
CEO Talk on Innovation, Digital Transformation, drupa 2016, Multi-Channel Innovation, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice, Value Innovation
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Sükran and Suri Value Analyse.001

© 2015 by Value Communication AG, Mainz. | Photo: Our Value Communication Fellows Şükran Ceren Salalı and Sudarsha Rambaran, created an amazing video documentation to present their results!

By Andreas Weber, innovation expert and print analyst from the Gutenberg City of Mainz

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Key issues:

  • The medium print does not have any problem today and in the future. Moreover, it is not in any crisis caused by others. 
  • There is nearly no other sector that presents itself in the public eye so awkwardly and badly as the printing sector.
  • Print buyers highly appreciate good counseling and contemporary, proactive market communication specifically on the topic of how printed materials can be designed particularly effective, appealing and interactive. However, this type of service is in short supply.

The good old Johannes Gutenberg has tossed and turned in his grave for ages. While in 2000, the American business elite elected him “Man of the Millennium” and Silicon Valley called him the innovator of modern times (digital pope, Jeff Jarvis, dedicated the book “Gutenberg the Geek” to him), the printer guilt has denied and practically mothballed him. 

Printing has nearly joined the rank of “non-words”. Despite the fact that worldwide hundreds of thousands of companies still make their money by producing printed materials. Many in the commercial printing business are looking to describe their work and what they offer new: whether it is media production respective marketing service provider or cross-media service provider, they increasingly try to avoid being associated with the term “print”. 

Is this necessary? No! — Therefore, it is the goal to deal with the subject matter of “print” in any form other than it has been dealt with for the past 15 years.

  1. The (alleged) end of the Gutenberg galaxy marks the new beginning of “limitless print communication” — for hundreds of years, printed materials were the measure of all things, firmly in the hand of professional printers and publishers. Beginning in the 1980s, desktop publishing and the motto “Everyone his own Gutenberg” cracked their monopoly. Since, totally new players have taken the lead. Key points: a) Apple and Google developed the first e-print functions as new standards, so millions of new smartphone and tablet users can print their digital contents as needed. b) Specialists among others for Facebook and Wikipedia, who come from the development sector for intelligent search engines and algorithms, have created solutions to configure social media data by mouse click and print them automatically (first and foremost pediapress.com from Mainz). In addition, smart online photo print solutions are used by millions of any age groups!
  2. Reality contra misbelief: The thesis “Internet kills print” is false — this is what publishers and print professionals believe and they convey this message to their customers by having debated about the “print crisis”, of which Google supposed to be the culprit, for years.  The following are arguments against this belief: 1. Print publishers caused their crisis themselves and they did not even use innovations in print, and 2. “digital natives” are positive toward print if the contents and the communication offers are relevant, personal, and useful. (See the following reports: http://valuetrendradar.com/2014/09/09/valuecheck-the-internet-is-not-the-death-of-print/ und http://valuetrendradar.com/2014/10/03/valuecheck-newspaper-publishers-theyre-left-crying-in-the-corner/)
  3. Communication deficits paralyze the printing industry — the attitude “our products speak for themselves” has an effect as numb feet. Printing companies are ossified in their routines. Even the most innovative products and solutions, which many can offer, are marketed in accordance with the “Old School” principle: using sample maps and machine demonstrations for children and other interesting parties. There is nearly no printing firm that knows how to use professional online and social media communication such as targeting marketing campaigns as shown in an exemplary fashion in England moo.com or snapajack.com . (See YouTube video “How to innovative print business”). — In this context, not only the art of self-portrayal is what counts but also networking such as the example of Print Three from Canada shows. 
  4. Innovation often takes place in print shops while the interfaces to the customers are mostly rather “retro”! — For more than 10 years, print shops have been under a significant cost pressure; however, they are primarily concerned with themselves to optimize their internal processes in order to produce efficiently. Only few of them focus on communicating the effectiveness of their print products, which they (can) produce for customers, offensively and attractively. Social media monitoring shows how much customers, who order printed matters online, have to criticize (they are unhappy about usability, multiple debits, a lack of color reliability, etc. see “printing research results: The Beauty and The Beast”).
  5. There is nearly no other sector that presents itself in the public eye so awkwardly and badly as the printing sector. This must change drastically! — For hundreds of years, print shops have not needed lobby efforts and industry communication. There were monopolists and there was no way around them. Moreover, they could sail on the lee side of machine suppliers. Just like IBM and computing, particularly the label “Technology by Heidelberg” guaranteed high customer confidence. This changed drastically no later than drupa 2012, which brought the breakthrough in digital printing. Many new players are no relevant. Nearly of them come from the imaging and IT sector. However, these companies are so large and different that individual print shops can hardly create any image transfer. This is not really terrible because with today’s media print shops can position themselves easily and effectively. Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus/YouTube and LinkedIn are the best aids, which provide the use of their infrastructure for free. It just requires a bit of training of how to handle it! — By the way, it is a bit embarrassing as well as inspiring that the world’s largest print buyer, IKEA, campaigns for print by imitating the Apple communication expertly. So far, more than 17 million people watched this video! Benchmark!

Conclusion — our take: “Something old needs something new!”

The printing sector should refocus on its old strength and the Gutenberg value system to be able to handle innovation in communication. This is the only way to survive structural change or structural break.  The medium print does not have any problem today and in the future. Moreover, it is not in any crisis caused by others. This is a homemade crisis. It is the outgrowth of business goals, user promises and communication that is no longer appropriate for customers and no longer up-to-date. No one has to do without the expertise, the passion, the flexibility of competent printing experts. Print buyers highly appreciate good counseling and contemporary, proactive market communication specifically on the topic of how printed materials can be designed particularly effective, appealing and interactive. However, this type of service is in short supply. This can easily be changed. Right? — Please check as well pour Value Guidelines for innovation marketing communications via Social Media.

NOTE: Please join #xug15eu conference. And experience the real value of print via innovative #multichannel solutions.

Print ist tot? Es lebe Print! — Erstklassige ValueReport Ergebnisse

May 16, 2015
CEO Talk on Innovation, Digital Transformation, drupa 2016, Multi-Channel Innovation, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Value Innovation
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Sükran and Suri Value Analyse.001

© 2015 by Value Communication AG, Mainz. | Im Bild: Die Value Communication Fellows Şükran Ceren Salalı und Sudarsha Rambaran, die aufrüttelnde Analyse-Ergebnisse gefunden haben und per Videorapport vorstellen.

Andreas Weber, Innovationsexperte und Print-Analyst aus der Gutenberg-Stadt Mainz, zieht ein Jahr vor der drupa 2016 Bilanz.
Lesezeit: 5 Minuten. Halbwertzeit: (fast) unbegrenzt!

Kernpunkte:

  • Das Medium Print hat heute und in Zukunft kein Problem und steckt auch nicht in einer von anderen verschuldeten Krise. 
  • Kaum eine Branche stellt sich so ungeschickt und schlecht in der Öffentlichkeit dar, wie die Printbranche.
  • Gute Beratung und eine zeitgemäße, pro-aktive Marktkommunikation, vor allem zum Thema, wie man Drucksachen besonders effektvoll, wirkungsstark und interaktiv gestalten kann, wird bei Print Buyern hoch geschätzt, ist aber Mangelware.

Der gute alte Johannes Gutenberg rotiert seit Jahren in seinem Grab. Während ihn im Jahr 2000 die Wirtschaftseliten der USA zum „Man of the Millennium“ kürten und das Silicon Valley ihn als Innovator der Neuzeit verehrt (Digital-Papst Jeff Jarvis widmete ihm das Buch „Gutenberg the Geek“) hat die Drucker-Zunft ihn verleugnet und quasi eingemottet. 

Drucken ist nahezu zum Unwort geworden. Obgleich hunderttausende Firmen in aller Welt nach wie vor mit dem Herstellen von Drucksachen ihr Geld verdienen. Viele im Commercial Printing-Geschäft suchen nach neuen Bezeichnungen dessen, was sie tun und anbieten: Ob Media Production respektive Marketing Service Provider oder Cross-Media-Dienstleister — es wird zusehends vermieden, mit dem Begriff „Print“ in Verbindung zu kommen. 

Marktdaten.003

Quellen: drupa Insight Report; Canon Insight Report; SAPPI & YOU.

Muss das sein? Nein! — Zeit also, sich mit dem Thema „Print“ in anderer Form auseinander zusetzen, als das die letzten 15 Jahre geschieht.

  1. Das (vermeintliche) Ende der Gutenberg-Galaxis markiert den Neubeginn von „grenzenloser Print-Kommunikation“ — Über Jahrhunderte waren Drucksachen das Maß aller Dinge, in festen Händen der Profi-Drucker und Verleger. Mit Desktop Publishing und dem Motto „Jeder sein eigener Gutenberg“ wurde deren Monopol ab den 1980er Jahren gebrochen. Seitdem haben ganz neue Player das Zepter in die Hand genommen. Gipfelpunkte: a) Apple und Google entwickelten die ersten E-Print-Funktionen als neue Standards, damit Millionen neuer Smart Phone- und Tablet-Nutzer ihre digitalen Inhalte bei Bedarf drucken können. b) Spezialisten u. a. für Facebook und Wikipedia, die aus der Entwicklung von intelligenten Suchmaschinen und Algorithmen kommen, haben Lösungen geschaffen, um Social Media-Daten per Mausklick konfigurieren und automatisiert drucken zu können (allen voran pediapress.com aus Mainz). Zudem werden smarte Online-Fotodruck-Lösungen millionenfach genutzt, von allen Altersgruppen!
  2. Realität contra Irrglaube: Die These „Das Internet bringt den Tod von Print“ stimmt nicht — Das Denken nur Verleger und Druckerei-Profis, die das auch noch ihren Kunden gegenüber äußern, in dem seit Jahren über die „Print-Krise“ debattiert wird, die vor allem Google ausgelöst habe. Dagegen spricht: 1. Print-Verlage haben ihre Krise selbstverschuldet und Innovationen im Print gar nicht genutzt; und 2. „Digital Natives“ stehen Print positiv gegenüber, wenn die Inhalte und Kommunikationsangebote relevant, persönlich und nutzbringend sind. (Siehe die Reports: “The Internet is not the Death of Print” und “Newspaper Publishers: They’re left crying in the corner”).
  3. Kommunikationsdefizite lähmen die Printbranche — Die Attitüde „Unsere Produkte sprechen doch für sich“ wirkt wie eingeschlafene Füsse. Druckereien sind in Routinen erstarrt. Selbst die innovativsten Produkte und Lösungen, die viele aufbieten können, werden nach dem „Old School“-Prinzip vermarktet: Per Mustermappen und Maschinendemos für Kunden und Interessenten. Kaum eine Druckerei versteht, professionell Online- und Social Media-Kommunikation einzusetzen, etwa mit Targeting-Marketing-Kampagnen, wie das in England moo.com oder snapajack.com vorbildlich machen. (Siehe YouTube-Video „How to innovative print business“) — Dabei zählt nicht nur die Kunst der Selbstdarstellung sondern auch die des Netzwerkens, wie das Beispiel von Print Three aus Kanada zeigt.
  4. Innovationen finden oft nur Druckerei-intern statt, die Schnittstellen zum Kunden sind derweil zumeist ziemlich „retro“! — Da die Druckereien seit über 10 Jahren unter erheblichem Kostendruck stehen, sind sie vorwiegend mit sich selbst beschäftigt, um ihre internen Abläufe zu perfektionieren, um effizient produzieren zu können. Zuwenige fokussieren sich darauf, die Effektivität der Printprodukte, die sie für Kunden herstellen (können) offensiv und attraktiv zu kommunizieren. Per Social Media-Monitorings zeigt sich, wie groß die Kritik von Online-Drucksachenbestellern ist (bezüglich Usability, Mehrfach-Abbuchungen, fehlender Farbverbindlichkeit etc., siehe „Printing Research Results: The Beauty and The Beast“).
  5. Kaum eine Branche stellt sich so ungeschickt und schlecht in der Öffentlichkeit dar, wie die Printbranche. Das muss sich radikal ändern! — Über Jahrhunderte brauchten Druckereien keine Lobbyarbeit und auch keine Branchenkommunikation. Als Monopolisten führte kein Weg an ihnen vorbei. Zudem konnte man im Windschatten der Maschinenlieferanten segeln. Vor allem das Label „Technology by Heidelberg“ garantierte wie seinerzeit IBM beim Computing, dass Kunden hohes Zutrauen hatten. Mit dem Durchbruch des Digitaldrucks spätestens seit der drupa 2012 hat sich das radikal verändert. Viele neue Player sind relevant, fast allesamt aus dem Imaging- und IT-Sektor. Diese Firmen sind aber so riesig und andersartig, dass die einzelne Druckerei kaum einen Imagetransfer herstellen kann. Was auch nicht schlimm ist, da man sich selbst heutzutage sehr einfach und wirkungsvoll medial in Szene setzen kann. Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus/YouTube und LinkedIn sind die besten Helfer, die in ihrer Infrastruktur zudem kostenfrei nutzbar sind. Man muss nur lernen, wie es geht! — Übrigens ist es sowohl beschämend als auch inspirierend, dass einer der größten Print-Buyer der Welt, IKEA, sich per YouTube-Video für Print stark macht, indem es die Apple-Kommunikation gekonnt imitiert. Bis dato haben mehr als 17 Millionen Menschen das Video angeschaut! Benchmark!

Fazit — Our Take: „Etwas Altes wird etwas Neues!“

Die Printbranche sollte sich wieder auf ihre alten Stärken und das Gutenberg’sche Wertesystem berufen, um Innovationen in der Kommunikation leisten zu können. Nur so kann der Strukturwandel resp. Strukturbruch überstanden werden. Das Medium Print hat heute und in Zukunft kein Problem und steckt auch nicht in einer von anderen verschuldeten Krise. Die Krise ist hausgemacht und ergibt sich nur, wenn die Geschäftsziele, das Nutzerversprechen und die Kommunikation nicht mehr kundengerecht und zeitgemäß sind. Auf die Erfahrung, auf das Fachwissen, auf die Leidenschaft, auf die Flexibilität von kompetenten Print-Fachleuten muss nicht verzichtet werden. Gute Beratung und eine zeitgemäße, pro-aktive Marktkommunikation, vor allem zum Thema, wie man Drucksachen besonders effektvoll, wirkungsstark und interaktiv gestalten kann, wird bei Print Buyern hoch geschätzt, ist aber Mangelware. Das lässt sich einfach ändern. Oder? Die ersten wichtige Schritte zeigt unser Leitfaden für erfolgreiche Kommunikations-Aktivitäten pro Print und via Social Media! 

TIPP: Perspektiven für Print zeigt übrigens die #XUG15EU Konferenz auf, die erstmals am 26. Mai 2015 in Berlin stattfindet.

SKANDAL: Jeder macht was er kann, keiner was er soll!

May 24, 2014
CEO Talk on Innovation, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice, Value Innovation
11 Comments

Value Talk by Andreas Weber @ Ink Jet Day Event 20052014 FINAL.007

 

Ein bewusst „böser“ Kommentar von Andreas Weber,
Sprecher DigitaldruckForum, Mainz

 

Das ultimative Manager-Motto scheint zu sein:
“Man kombiniert etwas, was nicht funktioniert, mit etwas, was nicht stimmt.”

 

Zwei interessante Wochen liegen hinter uns: Interpack 2014 in Düsseldorf, Online Print Symposium 2014 und Fespa Digital in München sowie vor allem die Swiss Publishing Days in Winterthur mit dem Thema „Inkjet macht Druck“.

 

So beeindruckend die Vielfalt der gebotenen Informationen ist, so ernüchternd ist die Erkenntnis, das das größte Übel die sind, die sich als Marktführer und Brancheninnovatoren selbst beweihräuchern und die von ihnen verschandelte Realität ignorieren.

 

Hoch bezahlte Manager aus der Digitaldrucktechnik-Herstellerindustrie bringen ihre Botschaft nicht rüber (von wenigen Ausnahmen abgesehen, lieber François Martin!). Ihr Fach- und Branchenwissen ist lausig. Ihre Vortragsfähigkeiten sind grauenhaft. Null Empathie, null Emotion, aber dafür viel Hybris. Sie kommen zu solchen Events wie Gladiatoren, treten selbstbewusst auf, verbreiten Blödsinn. Und sind gleich wieder beim jeweiligen Event verschwunden, ohne mitzubekommen, was sich in ihrem Markt tatsächlich tut. Selbst Mitarbeitern, vor allem aus dem Vertrieb derselben Hersteller, ist so etwas mehr als peinlich! Und mindert den Erfolg dramatisch!

 

Was ist nur los? 

 

Nach über 20 Jahren sog. Innovation der Print- und Publishing-Branchen tun die meisten nur, was sie können, aber nicht mehr was sie tun sollten. Digitaldruck spielt nach wie vor im Profi-Print-Markt nur eine marginale Rolle (gemessen an Print-Output und Umsatzvolumen). Der Kardinalsfehler: Die neuen Print-Technologien werden in Konkurrenz zu den klassischen Verfahren gesetzt. Statt zu zeigen, dass Print wichtiger Bestandteil einer digitalen Kommunikationskultur sein kann und muss.

 

Manager bei Digitaldrucktechnik-Herstellern, die vor zehn Jahren bei Hersteller-Firma X grosse Fehler machten (wie z. B. die Bedeutung von Fotobüchern als Wachstumsmarkt zu verleugnen), sind heute bei Firma Y in neuen Top-Entscheider-Positionen. Und setzen ihr düsteres Schaffen eifrig fort. Selbst wenn die neuen Arbeitgeber am Abgrund stehen und ihre Kunden mit nach unten ziehen. Dieselben Manager, die nicht kommunizieren und präsentieren können, kippen auch die Budgets für PR und Marketing-Kommunikation. Die Folge ist, dass aus der einst hervorragenden Fachkommunikation der Print-Branche ein stupider Push von Pressemeldungen mit Produkt- und Messeneuheiten über alle Kanäle geworden ist, die keiner braucht und die keinen Nutzen bringen. Fachzeitschriften-Verleger wissen, wovon ich rede!

 

Hinzukommt: Marketingabteilungen werden transformiert zu Market & Business Development-Units, die aufgebläht plumpe Verkaufsförderung betreiben und deren Leistung darin besteht, Kundenbeispiele zu sammeln und auf teuren VIP-Events vorzustellen.

 

Stoppt diesen Wahnsinn!

 

Und die meisten Kunden dieser Hersteller, die Druckerei-Unternehmen, lassen sich diesen schädlichen Dilettantismus gefallen. Munter wird gekauft, was als neu und zukunftsträchtig gilt. Man nennt so etwas das Lemminge-Syndrom.

 

Scheinbar wird übersehen, was alles passiert beziehungsweise nicht passiert, und dadurch die Branche nachhaltig schädigt. Die einst so stolzen Drucker werden von Jungspunden aus dem Digitalsektor als Loser belächelt. Das ist skandalös, aber selbstverschuldet.

 

Und gelinde gesagt, ist das heller Wahnsinn. Und muss sofort gestoppt werden, wenn der Schaden nicht noch größer werden sollen. Immerhin reden wir davon, dass im Sog der Technik-Hersteller hunderttausende Druckerei-Betriebe Schaden nehmen. Milliardenverluste in den letzen sechs Jahren, auf globaler Ebene in deutlich zweistelliger Höhe, sind die Folge, ebenso wie Arbeitsplatzverlust und Pleiten. Dies nur auf Strukturveränderungen und Marktveränderungen abzuwälzen, ist Selbstbetrug. Innovative Technik und Marktchancen durch Innovation gibt es zuhauf. Allein die Markt- und Kommunikationskompetenz ist unterentwickelt; ebenso wie die Innovations-Freudigkeit, mit dem Anspruch, die Printwelt nachhaltig zu verändern und neu auszurichten.

 

Fazit: Der Fisch stinkt vom Kopf her. Jagt dilettierende, selbstverliebte Top-Manager zum Teufel. Kehrt zu den Wurzeln zurück, die Print stark gemacht haben: Pionier- und Innovationsgeist, Kompetenz, Zielstrebigkeit sowie Werthaltigkeit. Der „olle“ Gutenberg würde sich freuen. Und last but not least: Formuliert endlich klare Botschaften, Visionen und solide Leistungsversprechen, um das Ruder rumzureisen, bevor der Print-Kahn endgültig kentert.

 

Beste Grüße aus der Gutenberg-Stadt Mainz!

 

Value Talk by Andreas Weber @ Ink Jet Day Event 20052014 FINAL.013

 

Bildcollage von Andreas Weber, unter Verwendung des Gemäldes der Künstlerin Ying Lin-Sill “Gutenberg Memorial 2009”, Öl auf Leinwand.

Selected Graphic Arts Industry Trends — Identified @drupa2012

April 25, 2014
Trend Analysis (in brief), Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice
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Illustration by Lidia Lukianova, SF Bay Area

 

 Why its worth to read & share this Blog post:

1. drupa 2012 was a milestone for the future of print.
2. Most of the points we identified in 2012 are still valid!
3. Print Buyers# needs were not yet fulfilled.

 

Spot 1 

“The next big thing” — Print in the communications mix

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen set important accents: The booth in Hall 1 trumped with the installation of five real-printing facilities. Printed materials of all kinds were produced in real terms – from data processing to finished products. All necessary equipment had been specifically tested in advance to enable them to deliver top performance. Next to this it showed what hybrid productions can look like: Inkjet and offset printing in the mix, toner-based digital printing and offset printing in combination with online and mobile applications, as well as displaying significant perspectives and taking a futuristic look at “Printed Electronics” in the Innovation Center of the Heidelberg booth. It became apparent that print in the communications mix is extremely important, if not central in an indispensable role.

Xerox made its mark in automated production in both commercial and packaging printing, as well as within the range of XMPie in cross-media approach. Particularly impressive at Xerox was the way it has created a way of bridging the gap from print to social media and cloud printing. Many others can also be named, and what could be seen with other exhibitors such as Canon, Konica Minolta, Ricoh, and Xeikon. Xeikon just stunned with its never-ending drive for innovation, which portrayed this relatively small player as an outstanding inventor. The drupa innovation park and lots of small ’Hot Shops’ impressed on around 130 stalls, with their innovations. My personal favorite – thanks to Bernd Zipper for the tip: cardolution from Vienna showed how it is able to integrate RFID chips into cardboard and offer NFC Business Cards for everyone. The chip transmits the address information from printed business cards correctly onto smartphones.

In this sense, drupa 2012 was a great success, marked by a few dozen prominent exhibitors who could prove that print has an unbroken power of innovation. Small drawback: The papermakers were barely visible. This is a shame. Sappi was as a premium brand, for example, represented by three smaller stands, but it was not clear what Sappi’s added-value drupa message was. The same goes for digital printing paper market leader Mondi. There was a presence at drupa, but probably more devoted to the contact to technology developers instead to the market of buyers. The exception was UPM in Hall 6, which focused its presentations and displays on both commercial and newspaper customers, as well as the end-user with a very strong environmental message added.

Spot 2

Change in Business Communication approach — Consolidation amongst media professionals

It is amazing and worthy of consideration, because this has been at drupa on this scale never before: The number of members of the press has declined by about 3,000 from 84 countries in the year 2008 to 2,400 from 75 countries in 2012. This is followed by the number of members of the press exactly the trend of sharp decline in visitors (minus 20 percent compared to 2008). Regardless of whether the media coverage of drupa 2012, quantitatively or qualitatively, have been better or worse, the reason should be scrutinized. Because traditionally it was always important for a drupa, to include professional competence as a media partner. It appeared however that press tasks are redefined, and in fact the view of many exhibitors will be to use trade magazines only to serve as a PR platform for exhibitors and their trade fair offers. Journalists are in short supply and tend to be stylized as claqueurs.

The trade fair Drupa Daily newspaper also reflects this again, because as of Haymarket on behalf of Messe Düsseldorf in the circadian rhythm-driven, advertising-funded print and online project, everything was worked up, that happened during the drupa 2012. But what could be the added value if the day’s events have been rumoured — and nothing more? In addition, all that was relevant was made via Twitter and / or YouTube by major exhibitors and analysts immediately publicize themselves. And of course, concise comments. For visitors and decision makers this could offer enormous advantages, since one could learn just about Twitter quickly and concisely in a direct digital path. Provided you know how it works! Talking digital: The drupa app for smartphones and iPad by Messe Düsseldorf disappointed, because only simple queries were possible, and it delivered no added value compared to the printed exhibition catalogue. That could have been done much better with a little extra effort.

Spot 3

A great step forward — Technology vendors are publishers and broadcasters in one!

A new feature with signal effect: Canon Switzerland produced on behalf of Canon Europe, a whole series of world-class professional interviews, created in high-quality TV style of its own Canon web-TV team. Very well done! Compliment! HP, Konica Minolta, Xerox, and Landa, newcomers, as well as many other smaller exhibitors demonstrated as well, their social media power. A visit to press conferences at drupa was thus in principle obsolete. What was presented at a conference for the representatives of the press was, at the same moment of the conference, published by the press conference organizers themselves on the web. To attend press conferences is only worthwhile, therefore, if you made a point to be entertained in an intelligent way, such as EFI CEO Guy Gecht did, or wondering / annoyed by Kodak CEO Antonio Perez, whose arrogant appearance, where self-perception and reality seems to collide with his company.

An inevitable effect: Those drupa exhibitors who publish multimedia self-invest none or hardly any money in professional advertising. The advertising revenues presented have so far been the main source of of income for specialist media publishers. This may explain why the number of press representatives declined so much. Many print journalists are really annoyed about the digital competition and keep Twitter & Co. for the devil. And drupa exhibitors have (still) not demonstrated that they can use social media effectively in the interests of customers and prospects. Too many use Twitter, for example, to take over their PR agencies, the ghost-writing on Twitter. The result is product-related communications push content. But Twitter users are interested in smart conversations — they don‘t like push-PR messages very much.

Spot 4

Print trade shows in trouble — Missing the end customers (print buyers)

Unexpectedly, was not the sharp drop in visitors and media representatives at drupa 2012. Messe Düsseldorf had indicated in advance that around 350,000 and is no longer, as once expected, the nearly 400,000 visitors. And it was hoped that from the Far East, and especially from China, that many new visitors would come from this region but there were “only” just over 310,000 visitors (the exhibitor staff, journalists, VIP’s not included). Many exhibitors were upset. They said that a record number of visitors is less important. More important is to get the right visitors to come, i.e. the decision makers and prospective buyers from the graphic arts markets. This has worked. Sales exceeded some expectations. All in all, sales revenues in the region of 2 to 2.5 billion EURO are likely to be implemented at, or immediately following drupa 2012.

drupa Was the drupa 2012 a success or not? The answer is yes and no at the same time! Yes, because it was found that innovation lies in the printing and paper technology development. No, because the efficacy was limited to the drupa industry insider. For more than a decade it has become clear that the fate of the printing and paper industry is no longer decided by printing and paper specialists, but by their customers and the market players in the online world. If they lock them out at drupa, the pace of innovation and adaptation in the communications market will weigh too rapidly from print. A look at the bigger picture beyond would have been useful — but remained well below or were not properly pursued. This show other important German trade fairs such as the automotive mega-show, IAA, or the Frankfurt Book Fair on exactly how to permanently overtakes success: The industry participants are always there together: from makers, to visitors and customers of all kinds. This is exactly what was needed, but was omitted from the drupa 2012 in Dusseldorf. Too bad!

Spot 5

WANTED! — Link to the communication specialists in the market

It is regrettable, however, that the drupa 2012 was unable to fully exploit its potential. For many years drupa does not adequately represent important groups of visitors, especially the so-called “print buyers”, the principal of printers from agencies and enterprises / brands. Drupa 2012 should have been able to inspire and motivate a lot of print buyers, more than ever before. Documents can be this simple: I myself had a few dozen print buyers and decision makers come from agencies and businesses to drupa 2012 – for example, in cooperation with the GWA. GWA drupa special interest day on 9 May 2012. GWA is the leading agency association in Germany. Through the Bank’s enthusiasm for present agency employees was huge when they are properly involved. To get the right knowledge, what is at stake, and how to profit from technological innovations in the communications business.

The exhibitors visited by GWA — Heidelberg, HP, Xerox and exhibitors and i. e. map specialist locr in the drupa innovation park   had been well prepared and adjusted to the print buyer. HP GSB‘s global marketing director Francois Martin, it could be, for example, do not take to prove with facts and creative prime examples of how the marketing and brand benefits from digital printing productions. For example, when BBDO individualized for the client Smart in Paris, an out-of-home campaign with 2092 posters, it scored much attention and in less than 14 days had produced posters in the main streets of Paris.

How can the fact matter that drupa 2012 was not an attraction point for agency and brand representatives on its own? The drupa cube was made by Messe Duesseldorf with daily events to major application issues. But the total of 1,000 participants or so in 13 days, presented in terms of the size of the communications industries employ was only a drop in the ocean. In Germany alone, nearly 800,000 professionals work as communications professionals. In this respect the drupa participation was in vanishingly small per thousand range.

In addition, the carrier of drupa, led by the German Engineering Federation VDMA and the German print association groups have a very narrow focus: They address only techies and printers out of their memberships. They are not linked to the communication specialists in the market. Say the established contact structures are directed to those target groups, offering the classic technologies of printing and paper sector or common printing services.

Graphic Repro On-line News Update

April 24, 2014
Valuable Advice
1 Comment

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If you would like to send news for consideration for the Graphic Repro On-line Website (ISSN 1814-2915) or to submit comments, please e-mail Mike Hilton at: graphicrepro.za@gmail.com.

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GraphicRepro.Net e-News (ISSN 1814-2923)  provides weekly updates from the Graphic Repro On-line Website and is  compiled and published by Mike Hilton, graphicrepro.net, PO Box 10 Peterburgskoe Shosse 13/1, 196605 Pushkin 5, St. Petersburg, Russia.
e-mail graphicrepro.za@gmail.com

 

 

 

Graphic Repro On-line News Update to Thursday 17 April

 

Welcome to another roundup of news for the past week, together with Laurel Brunner’s Verdigris Blog.

Rather a short week this week, due to the Easter long weekend in most countries, and another short week ahead, too. Therefore, I shall also try keep it brief this time.

Lots of good pre-FESPA news for this year’s Digital and Fabric events which take place in Munich from 20 to 23 May; as well as from Xeikon for its planned Xeikon Cafe on Packaging Innovations to be held at its premises in Lier, Belgium, at the same time – from 20 to 22 May. Then there’s Sign & Digital UK which takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, UK from 29 April until 1 May; Metpack in Essen, Germany from 6 to 10 May; and the really big one which many have been waiting for will be Interpack in Düsseldorf, Germany from 8 to 14 May. Don’t miss KBA and the Frog King leading the headlines on Wednesday! On the other side of the pond, International Sign Expo will also take place in Orlando from 23 to 23 April.

In addition to the above, on Thursday, Muller Martini issued an invitation to attend its 50th anniversary Open House at its new web printing Print Technology Centre in Maulburg, Germany, on 6 and 7 May, so we have a very busy month ahead of us to look forward to in the Merry month of May!. And although it is a little more than two years away, you will find the latest article relating to drupa 2016 from Andreas Weber in our drupa 2016 Newsroom, featuring an exclusive talk with Sabine Geldermann, drupa’s new director at Messe Düsseldorf.

Breaking news this week from EFI on Thursday, when the company revealed its latest financial results and a record first quarter, followed by its latest acquisition, in Europe for a change. On Tuesday, KBA subsidiary KBA-MePrint AG, announced the appointment of Sven Michael as its new CEO, and an internal promotion, which is always nice to hear. On Thursday, Sappi Europe SA announced the appointment of Stephen Blyth as its new Chief Financial Officer from 1 July 2014, and once again, a promotion from within.

Another major announcement this week came from Kodak and Manroland Web Systems as they inked an Authorised Reseller Agreement for integrated high-speed Kodak Prosper S-Series inkjet systems, whereby Manroland Web Systems now offers inkjet upgrades and makes variable printing even more attractive and accessible for the newspaper market. Kodak Prosper S30 heads with Stream inkjet technology run at full web offset production speeds. You’ll find links to another four related articles in the announcements made on Thursday.

As for the most recent sales and installations this week, don’t miss Screen on Monday with a Truepress Jet W1632UV in The Netherlands at Aelen & van Leeuwen; Screen again on Tuesday with a Truepress Jet 520 at Baumer AG in Switzerland; and then UKP Worldwide in the UK, with a Ricoh Pro C751 digital press. On Wednesday, Nela disclosed several recent installations for automated plate production systems for newspapers in Germany, Switzerland and Norway; and TG Print & Design in Woolwich Arsenal, London pushes into the ultra-high quality market with a LumeJet S200 inkless digital printing system. Newcastle, Australia print company WHO, has installed a new Heidelberg SX52 press; and Danish company Skanket has expanded its capacity with a second MPS EF UV flexo press. On Thursday to complete the week on a high note, Liverpool-based company S Barber is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year with the installation of a Heidelberg Speedmaster SX 74-5.

In Online Features, you will also discover Pim Print in The Netherlands, which has successfully adopted the Callas pdfToolbox Server, the workflow package that some consider to be only suitable for larger companies.

The tailender this week goes to Antalis South Africa (Monday), as the company scooped two awards from Kodak. The Outstanding Performance of Workflow Sales, and the Outstanding Performance Processless Plate Sales in the EAMER Region. The awards were presented to Ronnie Louw, Antalis’ regional manager Western Cape in Istanbul, Turkey. At the same event, Kodak also named Korozo as its first Certified Partner in Turkey, Middle East and Africa for Kodak Flexcel NX Plates.

I think that’s about it for this week, so until next time.

My best regards,

Mike Hilton

Our e-News comprises:  Headline News – Online Feature Articles – the Verdigris initiative from Digital Dots. Our Ipex, Drupa and FESPA Newsrooms can be accessed from the Index on our Home Page, as well as News in Review, which provides a weekly overview and listing of all news added to the site.  

Headline News
Over 24,000 news items have now gone online since we launched our Website in September 2001. News for the past 24 months can still be accessed via the Home Page and its continuation news pages Note: ‘next page’ and ‘previous page’ links appear at the top of each News continuation page.

Monday 14 April – Thursday 17 April

Mon 14 April…   Esko European debut of Kongsberg C Series at FESPA
Esko to show next-generation prepress, workflow and superwide digital finishing solutions at FESPA Digital 2014…

Fujifilm steams ahead in UV inkjet ink development
Variety of new UV inkjet inks to be launched at this year’s FESPA Digital 2014, set to take place in Munich from 20 – 23 May…

Zünd cutting systems at FESPA Digital in Munich
FESPA Digital 2014 provides perfect stage for Zünd to demonstrate time-saving features and supercharged productivity…

Xeikon Café on Packaging Innovations 20 – 22 May
To highlight potential of digital folding carton production; hosted in collaboration with Xeikon’s Aura Partners…

Antalis South Africa gains two Kodak EAMER accolades
Kodak Awards symbolic of environmental and cost considerations, as Antalis SA scoops two Outstanding Performance awards…

Aelen & van Leeuwen accelerates drive for better quality
The Screen Truepress Jet W1632UV at wide-format digital and screen printing company prints products not possible before…

Heidelberg USA introduces new Flexibleservice
Heidelberg Systemservice helps companies manage costs of incidental service with custom-designed service programmes…

Epson announces first dye sub transfer paper for textiles
DS Transfer Production Paper complements SureColor printers and UltraChrome DS inks for fashion and soft signage…

Tue 15 April…   New CEO appointed at KBA-MePrint AG
Sven Michael takes over the helm as Axel Thien leaves the company in Veitshöchheim, near Würzburg at his own request…

Baumer AG invests in colour Screen Truepress Jet 520
New Screen continuous inkjet press meets colour quality, productivity and ROI criteria for Swiss print services firm…

Heidelberg’s XL 75 Anicolor launch exceeds expectations
Heidelberg North America threw a hotly anticipated coming-out party for its groundbreaking XL 75 Anicolor digital offset press…

Korozo becomes first Kodak Certified Partner in Turkey
Kodak names Korozo as the first Certified Partner in Turkey, Middle East and Africa for Kodak Flexcel NX Plates…

ContiTech to debut new blanket at Metpack in Essen
Self-adhesive printing blankets for metal packaging…

Sun Chemical Metal Packaging Inks at Metpack 2014
Sun Chemical will demonstrate its expertise in metal decorating to brand owners, can makers and printers at Metpack in Essen…

Ricoh Pro C 751 delivers first class benefits to UKP
UKP Worldwide, a specialist in international distribution, is seeing the benefits of investing in a Ricoh Pro C751 digital press…

Wed 16 April…   KBA Group at Interpack 2014 in Düsseldorf
Tailor-made print solutions for many types of packaging from the KBA Group under the visual banner of the ‘Frog King’…

Top product launches and prizes at Sign & Digital UK
From 29 April to 1 May 2014 in Hall 2 at the NEC, Birmingham…

FESPA China 2014 from 19 – 21 November
Transforming business with print innovation; Global companies line up for second exhibition in Guangzhou Poly World Trade Centre…

Excellent first quarter of 2014 for Nela
Several automation projects signed as trend towards automated plate production in the industry set to continue in 2014…

TG Print & Design opts for LumeJet S200 printer
City printers TG Print & Design in Woolwich Arsenal, pushes into ultra-high quality market with LumeJet S200…

WHO Printing adds new Speedmaster in record time
Newcastle print company installs new Heidelberg SX52 press…

Scanket adds second MPS press for self-adhesive labels
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EFI acquires Group Rhapso in Les Ulis, France
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Varied opportunities with web offset from Muller Martini
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Kodak and Manroland Web in Prosper Inkjet agreement
Kodak and Manroland Web sign Authorised Reseller agreement for integrated high-speed Kodak Prosper S-Series inkjet systems…

Manroland Web and Kodak: Reseller inkjet co-operation
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New CFO confirmed for Sappi Europe SA
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S Barber celebrates its Centenary with a new press
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KBA remote maintenance is secure!
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Electronics For Imaging (EFI) is a world leader in digital imaging and print management solutions for the commercial printing market. Its portfolio of integrated solutions span production and superwide format printing, graphic arts, advanced professional printing software, and industrial inkjet systems. Its technologies increase productivity by automating print and business processes To find out more visit the EFI Website.

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Turbo Charge your Variable Print Productivity
The free guide, edited by Martin Bailey, CTO for Global Graphics and the primary UK expert on the ISO committees, shows how to ‘Do PDF/VT Right’ to maximise productivity and minimise turnaround in the variable data world…

March/April Chapter 04

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Technology-related articles Chapter 02

KBA Group at Interpack 2014
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Verdigris – Environmental Initiative
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Laurel Brunner’s latest weekly Verdigris Blogs

More than a Lottery Win
The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Thu 17 April

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FESPA Newsroom
Can be found in the Index on our Home Page.

FESPA Digital 2014

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Esko Sign & Display companies next-generation prepress, workflow and digital finishing solutions at FESPA Digital…

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Drupa Newsroom
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Drupa 2016 Specialist Feature Articles

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Print communication: Social Media Gets Relevant!

August 28, 2012
Basic Topics on Innovation, Trend Analysis (in brief), Valuable Advice
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Interesting post by Ricoh on print communicaton business and the value of social media.

Source:

 

Twitter is a treasure trove of content so rich with data that scientists are using it to predict when someone will get sick with the flu. But what value does this data mine bring to businesses and marketers?  Twitter first officially addressed some of its most loyal users – brands – with theintroduction of its “Promoted Tweets” feature in 2010, which allowed companies to pay for tweets to appear prominently in the timelines of their followers and users searching on specified keywords.  While it was a monumental shift for the successful startup in search of a business model, it only represented a small step in tackling an essential aspect of marketing – relevance.

As Dan Berthiaume points out in his recent column, Twitter’s new “targeted tweets” feature goes a step further in offering companies relevance by allowing them to send their Promoted Tweets to specific audiences based on new dimensions – such as location, platform and device. This is an important improvement for advertisers who previously had to choose between “spraying and praying” (e.g. sending a tweet about a US-only promotion to all of their followers) or repeating their tweet multiple times to reach their target audience  (e.g. tweeting time sensitive content several times to ensure that it reached various time zones).

Both choices left much to be desired – and risked much to be lost; mass tweeting meant many people received irrelevant offers and repeated tweeting meant that potentially interested followers were being turned off by redundancy (and disinterested customers were being annoyed multiple times). According to Berthiaume, “Every customer is of magnified importance to an SMB, so potentially alienating customers by sending repetitive or irrelevant tweets is especially dangerous.”

Targeted tweets not only represent a key tactical avenue for marketers who are in the deployment stage of a Precision Marketing campaign, they also symbolize how social media is reacting to what we call “The Relevance Era”- and how indispensible data and analytics are in successful marketing campaigns.  In addition to leveraging the immediacy of their medium, companies such as Twitter are also using the structured metadata associated with status updates such as geolocation and device information to help marketers.

But what about the data that makes social media “social”? In the world of data analytics and predictive modeling, social media is considered “free-form” data – it lives outside of rating scales, checkboxes and multiple choice options and offers a unique, valuable type of information.  Sentiment analysis of social media is increasingly being addressed by software (Twitter even allows users to search for positive and negative tweets) and companies such as Gaylord Entertainment effectively use social media data to monitor customer issues in real time.  While metadata is useful, perhaps Twitter will also allow marketers to target users based on more abstract criteria, such as sentiment and meaning, in the future.

As tablets and mobile devices drive social media’s popularity and increase its value as a decision-making tool, and as businesses turn to social media to increase the ROI of their marketing spending, social media allows business to address almost all the steps of the Precision Marketing approach: gathering data, analyzing and modeling, deploying and measuring.

One thing is clear, whether its direct mail, email, or social media – sending out a marketing message is just a start; precisely targeting the right message to the right audience via the right channels is the most important part of the battle for hearts and minds of customers.

Read more about how companies have effectively used social media in Sandra Zoratti’s new book, Precision Marketing: Maximizing Revenue Through Relevance.